Prior to coming to the Cape around 1708, he had lived with his family onthe island of Mauritius, then a Dutch East India Company Settlement,where they had grown sweet potatotes on the Lemoenboomvlakte. In1696 he had two slaves to help him and they were expected to plant out1000 half-aums of sweet potatoes each year and then dig up the crop.The Comander at Mauritius suggests that for this they really need about30 or 40 slaves.Upon the abandonment of the settlement on Mauritius, he was one ofthe freemen who elected to go to the Cape (rather than to Batavia)(Source: Leibbrandt - Letters Received 1695-1708, pages 92, 168 & 453)On the 11th March 1711 he and his son, Pieter Zaaijman, informed theBurgerraad that they were planning to move from the Cape District tothat of Stellenbosch and received permission to do so. (1 STB 15/2)At the time of his death he owned a house and yard in the Table Valley,block gg, numbers 11 and 12. This house was sold from his estate toJan Jacob Stockvliet in March of the following year.His household goods seem to have been minimal, a bed, mattress andpillows plus some table and kitchen ware. Apart from these, a largestock of silver buttons (58) and trouser fittings perhaps indicates thathe dealt in these?There is also a chest with coopering tools, perhaps another trade heor one of his five slaves, practised.His children are listed in the order given in the documents below.(Source: Inventory dated 1st December 1714, MOOC 8/3, andDeceased Estate Accounts dated 15th June 1717, MOOC 13/1/1, 89)

Daniel Zaaijman circa 1698-1725sailor in the emply of the Dutch East India Co. 11born circa 1698, Mauritius 12died 15 July 1725, in the far east, probably Ceylon 13Notes: He made his profession of belief on 16 August 1718 to becomea member of the Cape Town NG Church with Johanna van Es,wife of Hendrik de Vries as his witness.On 29th November 1718 he applied to the Council ofPolicy to enter the service of the Dutch East India Companyto try his fortune in India, saying that he was at present award of the Orphan Chamber and very poor.(source: Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope, Requesten (1715-1806), by H.C.V. Leibbrandt)

Johannes Zaaijman born 1704born 28 January 1704, Mauritius 14baptized 17 February 1709, Cape Town 15Notes: He had presumably died before 1714,since he is not named in the the inventory drawnup after the death of his father, Daniel Zaaijman.